Anthony Hopkins, 87, is one of the world’s most-celebrated and iconic actors, with a career spanning decades. But nearly fifty years ago, he realized there was a problem. Speaking on “The Interview,” the podcast hosted by The New York Times, Hopkins revealed an incident that made him realize he was an alcoholic. “I was drunk and driving my car here in California in a blackout, no clue where I was going, when I realized that I could have killed somebody — or myself, which I didn’t care about. I came to my senses and said to an ex-agent of mine at this party in Beverly Hills, ‘I need help,” he said. He was able to get help through a 12-step program.

The admission was met by an eerie confirmation. “It was 11 o’clock precisely — I looked at my watch — and this is the spooky part: Some deep, powerful thought or voice spoke to me from inside and said: ‘It’s all over. Now you can start living. And it has all been for a purpose, so don’t forget one moment of it.’” Hopkins described the voice as “male, reasonable, like a radio voice” and that immediately he was freed from craving alcohol. Hopkins attributed the voice to a diving appointment. “I don’t have any theories except divinity or that power that we all possess inside us that creates us from birth, life force, whatever it is. It’s a consciousness, I believe.” In the let 70s he would have a compelling moment to pull into a Catholic church and declare he had found God to the priest there. He described the voice as inner and personal. “Not up there in the clouds but in here. I chose to call it God. I didn’t know what else to call it. Short word, ‘God.’ Easy to spell,” he said.

This December will mark 50 years of sobriety for the actor who brought the spooky Hannibal Lecter to life. Hopkins has shared his story of sobriety with others in hopes of inspiring others to get the help they need. Last year on his social, he encouraged his followers. “’If you do have a problem – having fun is wonderful, having a drink is fine – but if you are having a problem with the booze, there is help. It’s not a terrible deal – it’s a condition if you’re allergic to alcohol, get some help, there’s plenty of help around,” he said. “One thing I didn’t realize, that I was not unique. There are thousands of people around like me – anyway, I got sober and, it sounds a dull word, but I’ve had a wonderful life.”